Hugh Kelly (footballer)

Football player infobox
playername= Hugh Kelly


fullname = Hugh Thomas Kelly
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1923|7|23
cityofbirth = Valleyfield
countryofbirth = Scotland
height =
position = Defender (retired)
youthyears = -1943
youthclubs = Jeanfield Swifts
years = 1943-1960
clubs = Blackpool
caps(goals) = 428 (8)
manageryears = 1961-1963
managerclubs = Ashton United (player-manager)
nationalyears = 1952
nationalteam = Scotland
nationalcaps(goals) = 001 (0)
pcupdate =

Hugh Thomas Kelly (born July 23, 1923 in Valleyfield, Fife) is a Scottish former professional football player and manager. He played as a defender.

Kelly began his career in his native land with junior club Jeanfield Swifts. He joined English club Blackpool in 1943 as a 20-year-old, but due to the ongoing World War II, he didn't make his League debut for the Seasiders until September 1946. During the war, he guested for several clubs, including East Fife.

It took some time for Kelly to establish himself in Blackpool's half-back line, but by 1948-49, the trio of Harry Johnston, Eric Hayward and Kelly was becoming legendary. He played in both the 1948 and 1951 FA Cup Finals, but an ankle injury meant he missed the famous 1953 match-up with Bolton Wanderers, although the club asked the Football Association to produce a special winners' medal for his nomination as "twelfth man".

The 1950s are the most successful decade in Blackpool's history to date. Kelly would be at the club playing top division football throughout, as would goalkeeper George Farm, defender Tommy Garrett, right winger Stanley Matthews, forward Jackie Mudie and outside left Bill Perry.

In 1955-56 he took over as Blackpool skipper from Johnston and helped the club to their highest-ever league finish, runners-up to Manchester United.

At the end of 1959-60 he was given a free transfer, and non-league Ashton United came in for his services as their player-manager.

Kelly was later on the backroom staff at Bloomfield Road and also started a business in the town as a grocer and ice-cream manufacturer.

International career

Kelly won one cap for Scotland, in the 6-0 defeat of the United States in 1952.

References

*cite book | first=Roy | last=Calley| coauthors= | title=Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887-1992 | publisher=Breedon Books Sport | location= | year=1992 | editor= | id=ISBN 1-873626-07-X
* [http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/player_details.cfm?playerid=112832 Kelly's profile at the Scottish FA's website]
* [http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/blackpool/blackpool.htm Kelly's stats at Neil Brown's site]
* [http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=4105 Kelly's profile at Soccerbase]